Cassava is a crop that likes a challenge. It can tolerate drought, heat or infertile soils as agriculture intensifies and populations grow. It is a carbohydrate source for 500 million people globally and a staple in Africa, Asia and South America, accounting for 53, 33 and 14 percent of global production respectively. Yet during the week-long World Congress onRead More …

Researchers believe they have uncovered a promising opportunity for reaching smallholder farmers in developing countries with vital crops that could help them respond to a host of challenges including climate change and malnutrition. It could have important implications for the way seed sales and distribution are organised, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. For decades, scientists have developed new crop varietiesRead More …

Two scientists with a long history of collaboration with CIAT have been honored for contributions towards the world’s most widely grown cassava variety – now grown by 60 to 75 percent of all cassava farmers in Thailand and Vietnam – and a key food security crop and source of income throughout Southeast Asia. At the week-long World Congress onRead More …

If you’re on a diet in 2016, restricting your carb intake might be on your list of New Year’s resolutions. But around the world, demand is on the rise for starch and other forms of carbohydrate, as incomes rise and consumer preferences change. It might seem strange that demand for a starchy root crop would increase with higher incomes.Read More …